Oilers are good at hockey again: Back in the plofs

[iCanada]

No clue, but they suck.

They’ve given up 4+ goals in every loss since Nov 2 aside from last night when they gave up 3.

That’s the most glaring symptom.

I was going to say you looked pretty good last night relative to the pack of the last 18 games.

 

[Video Nasty]

Same team closed out last season 17-2-1, so anyone who actually watches this squad could eventually see something as blistering as a 15-3 run incoming. They actually have a better record through 36 games (20-15-1) this season versus last season (19-15-2).

It’s a lot to ask, but consistent, merely average goaltending will see them win a Cup. Skinner has some of his confidence back and while I would feel more secure with better talent in net, they can win this thing just by avoiding being historically bad in net.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Calvin Picard was their season turning point.

 

[Coffey]

McDavid was playing injured
Ekholm was playing injured
Atrocious goaltending from both goalies
Getting goalied by the other team when they did have good games

Woodys new defensive system that put things out of wack too

 

[Czechboy]

I am not suggesting that they are a lock by any stretch. Rather I am suggesting that at this stage they should not care who they play when. They need to take every opponent seriously but play with confidence. And yes do need to find ways to improve the line-up. But in the current NHL I am not sure there is any team that this does not apply to.

As to the February schedule...I don't see it as that bad. Only 5 of 12 games vs teams with a better current winning percentage. And three of those games are with Vegas and the Kings two teams that they tend to play very well against. The other tow are Boston, a team that is now playing a lot more like the team that lost key players than last year's juggernaut. Dallas is the only team they play in February that always seems to have their number. If they play as they are now they should be able to win 7 of the 12 games at the least.

It is 12 games in 20 nights and we don't have a backup. Or much depth on d in case if injury.

 

[Frank Drebin]

Same team closed out last season 17-2-1, so anyone who actually watches this squad could eventually see something as blistering as a 15-3 run incoming. They actually have a better record through 36 games (20-15-1) this season versus last season (19-15-2).

It’s a lot to ask, but consistent, merely average goaltending will see them win a Cup. Skinner has some of his confidence back and while I would feel more secure with better talent in net, they can win this thing just by avoiding being historically bad in net.

Skinner is playing very well but I don't have a lot of confidence in him. A 1b backup, even a guy like Jake Allen would help out so much.

 

[Coffey]

WOW!


In a playoff position and still in a Lottery position!


Gotta hand it to the Oilers, they can do it all.

Didn't know you could win the lotto while in a playoff spot.

This is a new discovery for NHL teams.

 

[Gjman2019]

Woodys new defensive system that put things out of wack too

Can you elaborate on the specifics of what Knoblauch has changed since he got there ?

 

[Johnny HFBOARDS]

Didn't know you could win the lotto while in a playoff spot.

This is a new discovery for NHL teams.

heyheyhey lets not get cocky.

I said you had a lottery position, still lots of losing still to do before that Oiler holy grail.

 

[Coffey]

Can you elaborate on the specifics of what Knoblauch has changed since he got there ?

I think he kaiboshed this for one.

Woodcroft defends Oilers’ new defensive system after 1-4-1 start | NHL.com

Edmonton coach says team experiencing ‘growing pains’ following 7-4 loss to Wild

www.nhl.com

He's playing a lot of speedy players like Foegele and McLeod on the 2nd line with Drai, which has been paying off. He doesn't stack Drai and Connor together whenever they are down a goal or two, which really hampered comebacks since it would tire out your best players and the rest would feel unsused. Quite a few things, it's been showing.

heyheyhey lets not get cocky.

I said you had a lottery position, still lots of losing still to do before that Oiler holy grail.

Any team could in a playoff position could start losing and end up in a lotto spot.
But sure, cute narrative.

 

[Gjman2019]

I think he kaiboshed this for one.

Woodcroft defends Oilers’ new defensive system after 1-4-1 start | NHL.com

Edmonton coach says team experiencing ‘growing pains’ following 7-4 loss to Wild

www.nhl.com

He's playing a lot of speedy players like Foegele and McLeod on the 2nd line with Drai, which has been paying off. He doesn't stack Drai and Connor together whenever they are down a goal or two, which really hampered comebacks since it would tire out your best players and the rest would feel unsused. Quite a few things, it's been showing.


Any team could in a playoff position could start losing and end up in a lotto spot.
But sure, cute narrative.

Ok thanks....Has he switched from zone back to man to man ?

Great to see them back in contention but that man to man system got killed in the playoffs ......

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Cup or bust this year.

 

[Fourier]

It is 12 games in 20 nights and we don't have a backup. Or much depth on d in case if injury.

There are some soft games that they could play Pickard. He's actually look not so bad recently. Injuries of course are a wild card. And while 12 games in 20 nights could be a problem in the last few years this core has been at their best in stretches where the load was heavy. .

 

[winnipegger]

Yeah they are a good team and I'm desperately hoping for the canucks to get them in round 1 because that would be too much fun.

 

[Baby Pettersson]

Yeah they are a good team and I'm desperately hoping for the canucks to get them in round 1 because that would be too much fun.

Me too!

 

[Coffey]

Ok thanks....Has he switched from zone back to man to man ?

Great to see them back in contention but that man to man system got killed in the playoffs ......

Yea, I know. That's why Woody changed it up, got rattled by Vegas too much.
We'll have to see what Garlic has in store for the team if playoffs come around.

 

[Czechboy]

Oh last one got locked haha

Here we go again

There was another one? I've been patiently waiting for the day we are in with points and points percentage lol. Today is that day.

Oil fans took a shitkciking on the mains in the Fall

 

[iCanada]

Ok thanks....Has he switched from zone back to man to man ?

Great to see them back in contention but that man to man system got killed in the playoffs ......

No he's definitely running a zone, or atleast a hybrid. Like box plus 1 kind of deal.

 

[SupremeTeam16]

Visual representation of the Oilers catching teams for a playoff spot.

 

[Deplorable Lenny]

WOW!


In a playoff position and still in a Lottery position!


Gotta hand it to the Oilers, they can do it all.

How are they in a lottery position if they are in a playoff position?

 

[TheDoldrums]

Heartwarming story of the preseason favourite with tons of talent finally meeting the most minimal of expectations

 

[Coffey]

How are they in a lottery position if they are in a playoff position?

He already answered that and it was as bad of a response as you could imagine.

 

[Bizzare]

I'll add.lol My fav Oiler Bouch was terrible. McLeod couldn't finish either despite playing great.

To my eye.. McLeod is now killing it. Bouch, who will never be Rod Langway, has totally cleaned up his end.. I haven't seen twitter light up with a Bouch being clowned for a few months now.lol

He did try and give the sens a 1-0 lead in his first or second shift yesterday. Twitter would have been all over that if Stutzle scored.

 

[Cup or Bust]

The biggest change is Knoblauch has the team playing a more fundamental style of hockey. He plays a 4 line game and everyone in the lineup has an actual purpose. The Oilers bottom 6 is certainly still questionable but unlike Woodcroft and Tippet, he utilizes the 3rd and 4th lines and they are effective and have effective minutes. The Oilers cycle the puck better on all 4 lines and certainly they have been better defensively. Individual performances have also improved of course. Skinner is much better in net and Connor McDavid had a bad start to the season and definitely had something wrong with him for a stretch of about 10 games. I fully believe the Oilers would have come back (Maybe not as fast) even if Woodcroft was coaching but i don't think they would be playing as fundamentally good as they have since Knoblauch and Coffey joined the coaching staff and I believe your team has to play a good fundamental game to win the Cup no matter how talented they are.

 

[zar]

I'd be interested to know how much of this was actually Woodcroft. He took them pretty far last season. Assuming they didn't have the injuries they had to start the season, would woodcroft still have a job? And would they be in a playoff spot? Or was he more of a contributing factor to the early season slump than any of the others?

I think Woodcroft mistakenly tried the square peg, round hole method.

Woody knew they needed to play more responsively defensively… everyone knows that. He was trying to have them play zone D and a patient defensive system. Problem is; the Oilers, as a team, have a low“defensive” IQ.

Knoblach has taken the approach that you can be more effective defensively by using your skating legs; skating harder, elevated battle levels, forcing turnovers by forechecking the crap out of teams… this is something the Oilers can do.

They have to consistently execute this style 60 minutes a game, every game, though. It is a much harder defensive game to execute consistently but it’s the only one that might work with this team structure.